Algerian Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal (right) welcomes French Prime Minister Manuel Valls at Algiers airport. (Source: AFP/VNA)

Welcoming Mr. Manuel Valls and 12 French Ministers at Houari Boumediene International Airport in the capital Algiers were host country Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal and members of the Algerian government.

During the visit, Prime Minister Valls and his host counterpart Abdelmalek Sellal are expected to co-chair the third session of the High-Level Intergovernmental Committee (CIHN).

At the meeting, the two sides will discuss bilateral relations, solutions to strengthen this relationship, as well as exchange regional and international issues of mutual concern. The two sides will also review the results achieved and discuss measures to strengthen bilateral economic cooperation. On this occasion, the two sides will also sign a series of cooperation agreements in many fields.

Ahead of the visit, in an interview with El Watan newspaper, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls highly appreciated the partnership between Algeria and France in the fight against terrorism, wishing to further strengthen cooperation in this field with Algeria.

Besides, the French Prime Minister also expressed his wish that the two countries promote special partnership in many areas such as political, economic, cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls' visit to Algeria comes amid tensions between the two countries over the Panama Papers.

On April 6, Algeria summoned the French Ambassador to the country to protest the French media's reporting on the "Panama Papers" case, which Algiers considered a "hostile campaign" aimed at Algeria.

Previously, the French newspaper Le Monde published on its front page a picture of Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika as one of the leaders mentioned in the "Panama Papers" case, before clarifying that the Algerian leader's name was not included in these leaked documents./.

According to Vietnam+